Electric meter



Aug. 18, 1936. A. L. EMENS ELECTRIC METER Filed OCT.. 13, 1954 mdeffvw. E ,MEME/ww@ Patented Aug. 18, 1936 Albert L. Emens, La. Fayette, Ind., assigner to Duncan Electric Mfg. Co., La. Fayette, Ind., a corporation of Illinois Application October 13, 1934, Serial No. 748,164

17 Claims.

vThis invention relates to electric meter casings, and has been illustrated as embodied in a meter casing for containing two or more meter.

elements, although in many of its aspects it could .be embodied in closure devices for other electrical apparatus casings. Two or more meter elements are used for measuring power Yin polyphase circuits. v

In electric meters it is very important to have -a casing which is tamper-proof or as nearly sov as possible. Otherwise there are'many people who would endeavor to steal electricity by doing something to the Vmeter which will make it indicate less than the actual consumption of power. For the sake of convenience and permanence in attaching the meter it is common practice to use a metal base, and for the sake of visibility of the meter indicators, it is common practice to use a glass cover. In the old days, the cover was se- 'cured in place by two threaded studs which extended therethrough and onwhich were screwed thumb screws or the like, the unscrewing of which was prevented by a sealing wire. The holes through which the threaded studs passed formed excellent channels of access for tapering. In

single unit meters the studs have been displaced by an arrangement by which theY glass cover is secured along its edge to the metal base. yThis is most conveniently done by giving the vglass cover rotative movement, as when bayonet clamps are used. It is obvious, however, that for such a rotative attachment the cover should be round, especially as it is desirable to have a cover and a meter base partially telescoped. In the case of meters such as polyphase meters, in which two or more elements are enclosed in the same casing, it is impractical to have a meter cover round, but instead it usually has an elongated or oval shape such as that shown. It therefore follows that inV connection with casings having noncircular covers, there is a special problem of securing tight tamper-proof locking means. It is of course obvious that the locking means shouldV be easy to operate, both for locking and opening, and should be capable of effective and easy sealing with the customary sealing wires. It may be explained that these sealing wires comprise merely a short lentgh of rather small wire joined in loop formation with a lead seal which would indicate tapering, the loop thus formed tying together two parts which must be separated in order to open the cover. It is therefore the object of the present invention to solve this special problem of safely and conveniently securing a non-circular cover, together with such incidental problems as may arise. In the illustrated form of the invention, the solution is found in the combination including a pair of lock bars which Y are slidable to engage lugs on opposite sides of a glass cover, each of which is operated 4byv a pivoted operating lever, the two operatinglevers being mounted onA a key'to a common rod, Yso

that V operation of the lever releases both sliding lock bars.A Y Y Withthese and various other objects in View, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing and claims appended hereto. Y

In the drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of the device, and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts.

Figurel is a front view of the illustrated form of the invention with part of the cover broken away;

Figure 2 isa fragmentary side view of the same; Y

Figure 3 is asimilar view showing levers in the released position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Although my invention may take many forms, only one has been chosen for illustration. This form is embodied in a base II) preferably of metal, a cover I2 preferably of glass, a collar band I 4, preferably of metal, together'with special Vlocking features hereinafter described. Since the special problem which the invention solves relates to non-circular meter covers, the cover is illustrated as being oblong, although of course the invention could be used with a circular cover if desired. 'Ihe collar band I4 iswrapped around the cover, and its two ends may be joined in any way, as by each being spotwelded to a locking bracket I6, as shown in Figure 2. The cover is anchored within the band by the interlocking flanges shown at the upper edge of Figure 2. As shown in Figure 1, another locking bracket IG, identical to the one shown in Figure 2, may be spotwelded or otherwise secured to the collar band on the oposite side of the cover from the locking bracket I6 shown in Figure 2. The locking bracket I6 is shown in longitudinal section in the right hand side of Figure 1, in transverse section in Figure 4, and in an enlarged back view in Figure 5. From these figures it is seen that there is an attachment portion I8 which contacts the collar band I4 along the forward and side edges of the locking bracket I6. Extending Vfrom this attachment portion is a shield portion which is suitably spaced from the collar band I4 to permit the locking features to be almosttherebetween. These locking features include a pin 22 which has an enlarged head 24,

cov

which if desired mayY bear a friction reducing roller, though none has been shown.

Also positioned Within the shield 20 when'V the cover is on, but riveted tothe base instead of I V5 the shield is a stud 26 having an enlarged head."

Mounted to slide on thisrstud is alocking-lever. 4. y

are preferably provided with holes therethrough,

28 in which is a slot 3l)V preferably of the key-hole i type,Y through which the stud 26 extends.' YThe key-hole'type of slot is Ypreferred Vto facilitate assemblyor replacement of the'locking `lever.

VThe locking lever 28 is provided vvithma bayonet' end 32 which may; engage the headr24 of pin 22,`

as shown in Figures 1 to 5. Y The lockingflever 28 isrpivoted as by the riveted pin 34 toan-op.Y V erating lever 36. 'The operating levers on both sides` are mounted on a common operating Vrod 38 in which they are/keyed, as by bein'gprovided with square holes'engaging square ends `of the. rodi'V i33V, as Yillustrated-in Figuresl-and 2. The'opere Yating rod 38V is rotatively carried'by thefbse 10, Y

and extends therethroughfrom side Yto side". Y To Ylock the operating leversad the locking levers against movement,V operatlnglever 3611sprovided With `anfexten'sion 40,- andlocking `lever 28 is-'provided with anjextension 42, Vwhicl'rextensions are provided with holes 44 which register with onefanother'when the levers -ai'e in fthe- Ylocked position, `and -are preferably positioned Y slightlyabovethebase- I0 so thatl a'rodzmaybe 30 passed through the noms A441m the levers Orl-'both sides Aof the meterv if desired. The extensionf 42 partially encircles the rod 38 which is provided with fa* spacingwasher 46, the'primary purpose of which is to space the operatinglever 36 sufl- Y' 35': ciently from'the base Ill'so asto leave free; operating room for the extension 42. The-extension K Y 42 and .thewasher 46, -howevenmay if desiredV have the additional function ofvrlimiting the 4 movement-of the levers sothatinmoving them Y 4Q' torthe'locked position they cannot be moved; be-i yond the point at which the holes coincide.y

In locking the meter cover in position-'once it has been placed in the position shownin Figure 3, I.

itis merely ynecessary'tc turn oneoperatinglever 45 3,6ffrom the position shown in Figure 4 to V.the

positionushownsin Figure 2. VThis. by means `of the-rod;38 rotates the other operating-leverjlike- YWise and -thes two Yoperating.leversvslide the two locking'lvers 28-from theY `position shown in Figurev 3-to the position shownrin Figure 2, the,V y bayonet'32 engaging the pin 22 to press'the cover Y kfirmly against" the base.V I0- To make thegyjoint between the Ycover VI2 andY the base VID. substanf` tially water-tight,4 a washer150-mayjbe provided s if desired. .In unlockingV the Ycover;eitherone of thelevers 36 isi movedin thereverse direction from thepositionshown' in Figurer2,to the'posi tions'hownin Figure 3, thereby sliding downlboth `of the locking levers 28` tothe` position shown in Figure 3.5- Itis noted that in this releasing oper--` maybe dispensed with by merely cutting `away a Y V70 portionof` the vshoulders mentioned, or by slightly rearranging Ythe positinof theparts.

The metersbase llmay usuallyV be providedV Y with a/lower integraltermina'l chamber portion 56 and oftenvvith a lcover-58 for thisportion.

75.` When Yit is desiredfsimultaneouslyA to lockY the strued as. broadlyas thesprior Vart `willpermit.

terminal chamber cover 58 and the meter cover I2, this may be done by screwing one or more locking'screws 60 through the cover 58 into the terminalchamberf56. A lug or ilange 62 Vmay Y be provided on the insideof the wall of the ter- 5 minal 'chamber for this purpose. The screws 60 through which may be passed a sealing bar 64, as shown best in Figure 1. The sealing bar 64Y 'may havea slot orghole in'itskend as illustrated 10 :by the-usual lead sealing slug, the Vsealing .wireV not being shown. It should be understood,` of 15 course, 'that even if the'bar'e64-'is notrused,""or! Yeven ifV it isl passedthrough the holeslMf instead; Y vof being used in the position. shown in Figure 1,

the sealingwire would usually'. be used in addi-- tion.'-` e -As is: readily seen,xthe construction illustrated; isverysi-mple'of operation and manufacturefand very eiectivein preventing tampering withthe meter., Thefstructures on the two sides of the' meter are substantially identical fandi may. be enl-,s255l i'.

tirely sopalthoughasillustrated-.both of theVV shields 28 are bracedt at 4their tops more than at theirbottoms. :Therengagement of the 'flocking 1 levers 28 Awith i',hestud26` andthe pinq22fispror-V tested -by the shield Vzu which. extends bask. b e- .-sotyond the same. g 4 Y Y s It isto-ebe understood that .many other embodiments of the invention,including some fineim-V, proved form, `will be lapparent, andfin thecourse offtime .more will be --devisedby those, skilled fin' 351 the art. .Itis notfde'sired thatthis invention- .be limited toythedetailsdescribed, for its scopein.- cludes all.such formsgor.improvementscomeV VWithin :the spirit of `the.followingciaima;conf

Whatis claimed is: y .1..AllnetercaseV comprising: a .basepan-.oblongg Y covertfor'saidl base, lugson said: cover substan`. Vtially diametrically opposed, `and Ya `plurality fofV locking levers. each .secured to said base' andarrangedrto engage one of saidlugs; said lll-versbeingslidable4 and mounted on' said ibase, and lhav-f.v

ing bayonet'po'rtionsfforengaging saidV lugs. I. .2. A meter. caseecomprising: a base,.,an :oblong coverforsaid'base, lugs on said covers'ubstan-V l tially diametrically opposed, v`apair of locking levers each `secured tov said' baseV and arranged to engage one of Vsaid lugs,r and .meansfor jointly operating both of said levers.

53. A meter'ca'se comprising: -a base, anoblong`v cover for'said base, lugs on said cover substan` 1 tially diametrically opposed, a` lockin'gleversecuredl to said base .and ,arranged to. engage one.l of "said, lugs, andrnea'nsfor jointly operating.,

both of said levers comprisingseparate operating 60;Y j

leversone 'engaged to eachV lockinglever and both keyedto a common shaft'rotatably carried bysaidbasefk 'Y .f

,4. A metercase including: a, base; Vaplurality of vsymmetrically disposed-fastening devices operable by a common operatingvmeansand ,eachVVV including `alpinmounted on saidibiase;V anda locking lever having a. slot; and slidingonsaid pin by means thereof, and havinga Vbayonetpor'- Vtion for engagingfa lug onialcovergmemberl v 5.A.Vmeter case including; a'ba'se; a'plurality of symmetrically. disposed. fastening devices .operi able bya common operating means fandfeach 'v including a pin mounted on said bseifa Ylocking level having a Slot and sliding on said'pinfby 75 V` means thereof, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a lug on a cover member; said pin having an enlarged head to retain said locking lever, and said slot being of the key-hole shape so that in the unlatched position of said locking lever said locking lever may be removed from said pin.

6. A meter case including: a base; a plurality of symmetrically disposed fastening devices operable by a common operating means and each including a pin mounted on said base; a locking lever having a slot and sliding on said pin by means thereof, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a lug on a cover member; and a cover member having a lug thereon positioned to be engaged by the said bayonet portion. Y

7. A meter case including: a base; a plurality of symmetrically disposed fastening devices operable by a common operating means and each including a. locking lever slidably secured thereto, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a lug on a cover member; a cover member having a lug thereon positioned to be engaged by the said bayonet portion; and a shield positioned to protect said locking lever and said lug when said locking lever is locking said cover in position.

8. A meter case including: a base; a locking' lever slidably secured thereto, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a lug on a cover member; a cover member having a lug thereon positioned to be engaged by the said bayonet portion; and a shield positioned to prevent removal of the locking lever which is otherwise removable and to pro-tect said locking lever and said lug When said locking lever is locking said cover in position, said shield comprising an extension of the cover member and being removable With said cover member to increase the accessibility of said locking lever.

9, A meter case including: a base; a locking lever slidably secured thereto, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a lug on a cover member; and an operating lever pivoted tol said base and to said locking lever in such manner that the rotation of the operating lever slides the locking lever.

l0. A meter case including: a base; a locking lever slidably secured thereto, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a cover member; and an operating lever pivoted to said base and to said locking lever in such manner that the rotation of th-e operating lever slides the locking lever and simultaneously rotates it in a direction to draw the cover on tighter as the locking lever is slid in a cover-engaging direction.

1l. A meter case including: a base; a locking lever slidably secured thereto, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a cover member; an operating lever pivoted to said base and to said locking lever in such manner that the rotation of the operating lever slides the locking lever and simultaneously rotates it in a direction to draw the cover on tighter as the locking lever is slid in a cover-engaging direction; and means for limiting the movement of said levers to the posi-4 tion of maximum drawing-on of the cover.

l2. A meter case including: a base; a locking lever slidably secured thereto, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a cover member; an operating lever pivoted to said base and to said locking lever in such manner that the rotation of the operating lever slides the locking lever and simultaneously rotates it in a direction to draw the cover on tighter as the locking lever is slid in a cover-engaging direction; means for limiting the movement of said levers to the position of maximum drawing-on of the cover; and a sealing hole in each lever, said sealing holes being positioned to come into registry at the said last named position.

13. A meter case including: a base; a locking lever slidably secured thereto, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a cover member; and

an operating lever pivoted to said base and to said locking lever in such manner that the rotation of the operating lever slides the locking lever; said base having a terminal chamber portion and means for securing a cover on said terminal chamber, and said operating lever and said means having sealing holes which are aligned when the respective covers are secured.

14. A meter case including: a base; a locking lever slidably secured thereto, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a cover member; and an operating lever pivoted to said base and to said locking lever in such manner that the rotation of the operating lever slides the locking lever; said base having a terminal chamber portion and means for securing a cover on said terminal Y chamber, said operating lever and said means lever and said locking lever having sealing holes 9 which come into registry when said locking lever is in a locking position whereby these levers may be sealed independently of the terminal chamber cover.

15. A meter case including: a base; a plurality of symmetrically disposed fastening devices operable by a common operating means and each including a pin mounted on said base; a locking lever having a slot and sliding on said pin by means thereof, and having a bayonet portion for engaging a lug on a cover member; and securing means for securing said locking lever in a locking position, said locking lever between its points of engagement with the cover and with the securing means being of such length, shape and quality as to be resilient to a substantial degree.

16. A meter case including a base, a locking lever secured thereto and having a bayonet portion for engaging a lug on a cover member, a cover member having a lug thereon positioned to be engaged by the said bayonet portion; and a shield positioned to prevent removal of the locking lever which is otherwise removable and toprctect said locking lever and said lug When said locking lever is locking said cover in position, said shield comprising an extension of the cover member and being removable With said cover member to increase the accessibility of said locking lever.

17. A meter case including a base, a locking lever removably secured thereto and having a bayonet portion for engaging a lug on a cover member; a cover member having a lug thereon positioned to be engaged by the said bayonet portion; and a shield positioned to prevent removal of the locking lever which is otherwise removable and to protect said locking lever and said lug When said locking lever is locking said cover in position, said shield comprising an eX- tension of the cover member and being removable with said cover member to increase the accessibility of said locking lever.

ALBERT L. EMENS. 

